Don Congregational Cemetery : The Don Congregational Cemetery is one of the oldest in the State of Tasmania. Early pioneer James Fenton donated an acre of ground for its establishment. At rest in this historical patch of ground are many of the original men and women pioneers of the Don River settlements, Devonport and its surrounding district. The Congregational Church at Milton on Don about a kilometre from here was opened on December 28th 1862.
First Known burial
"I regret having to announce a fatal accident that occurred on Monday, the 17th Oct.1864 a miner's wife named Hodgkiss was coming down to the Don Stores. She lived up the tramway but on the opposite side of the river and had to cross the latter on a tree. She was accompanied by her two children, aged three years and seven months respectively. She appears to have left the youngest while she took the eldest across and it is supposed from the appearance of the tree that she slipped off and both sank to rise no more. The river was searched all day and about 6 o'clock in the evening her body was found, but up to the present time the little girl has not. The body of the little girl who was drowned was found by her father on Saturday morning." (Bushlife in Tasmania. James Fenton 1891)
Cradle Mtn Connection The headstone for Kate Weindorfer (nee Cowle), wife of Gustav Weindorfer of Waldheim, Cradle Mtn fame is prominent here as you enter the graveyard alongside other members of the Cowle family. The Weindorfer story can be read in the book "A Man and a Mountain" The History of Gustav Weindorfer by Margaret Giordano. He can be credited with influencing the decision to create the Scenery Preservation Board - the precursor to The National Parks and Wildlife Service of today.
This historic cemetery really needs some custodial action to preserve and maintain the resting places of many of the earliest pioneers in the district.
This cache hide might be more unusual than you might expect, but if you look for something incongruous and away from any graves and grave infrastructure in a place shielded by bushes, then success will be yours.
Good job CoxFamily7310 on FTF.